Conductor-insulator clamp



July 15,1958 c. c. MIX

CONDUCTOR-INSULATOR CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Filed Feb. 10, 1954 July 15, 1958 c. c. MIX 2,843,653

I CONDUCTOR-INSULATOR CLAMP Filed Feb. 10, 1954 2 SheetsSheet 2' u mam 2,843,553 Federated July 15, 1958 CONDUCTOR-INSULATOR CLAMP Chauncey C. Mix, deceased, late of Bradford, Pa., by Gladys M. Mix, executrix, Bradford, Pa.

Application February 10, W54, Serial No. 40%,474

6 Claims. (Cl. 174-172) This invention relates to a conductor-insulator clamp.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a clamp structure which is adapted for detachable connection with an insulator and which is further adapted for detachably connecting a high voltage conductor to the insulator.

The improved clamp is adapted for use with a standard form of insulator which generally embodies a circular head having a diametrical groove in the upper face thereof, and a skirt which merges into the head through a reduced neck portion defining a circumferential recess Whose bottom is of less diameter than that of the head.

In the prior use of this form of insulator, the conductor'was supported in the said diametrical head groove and bound therein by tie wires which were circumferentially anchored in the said recess.

The objection to such means for securing conductors to insulators have been recognized and certain bracket or clamp structures have. been proposed in an eifort to overcome such objections.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a clamp structure for removably securing conductors to pole supported insulators which fully overcomes said objection and to generally improve on structures heretofore proposed.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved clamp for the purpose set forth embodying opposed conductor receiving semi-tubular members together with spring means detachably engageable with an insulator and supporting said members for movement into and out of conductor surrounding relation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp of the general character referred to which is relatively simple in construction, highly efiicient in use and which is capable of being rendered operative or inoperative quickly and with a minimum expenditure of manual effort.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the improved clamp in operative connection with a conductor insulator.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the clamp as observed from the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottomplan view of the clamp with the insulator shown in dot-and-dash lines for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view corresponding to Fig. 2 but wherein the clamp is in conductor releasing or receiving position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on actual scale size as observed in the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the lower conductor receiving semi-tubular member on an actual scale size; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view as observed in the plane of line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The improved clamp herein disclosed is adapted for use with a standard form of high voltage conductor insulator I which together with other like insulators are supported on a pole cross-member in well known manner. The insulator includes a head H, a skirt S, a groove G in the upper face of the head in diametrical relation thereto, and a circumferential recess R intermediate the head H and the skirt S.

The improved clamp includes a pair of separable mating lower and upper semi-tubular members 10 and 11 respectively, which jointly provide a tube through which a length of the conductor C extends and by which such length is removably secured to the insulator I. The clamp further includes spring means for supporting and for moving the semi-tubular member into and out of operative position. Such spring means comprises a single length of relatively heavy gauge spring wire which is con formed to provide a preferably relatively fiat loop 12 intermediate its ends and which loop is provided with laterally opposed downwardly inclined U-bends forming catch members 13, 13.

From the loop 12 extend arcuate lower arms 14, 14' which are substantially concentric to the axis of the insulator I. The arms l4, l4 merge into coils l5, l5 and from which coils extend upper arms 16, 16'. The coils 15, 15 bias the lower arms 14, 14- and the upper arms 16, 16' apart. The arms l6, 16' each include a portion 16 extending tangentially from the respective coil, a portion 16 inclined downwardly and away from the coil and a latching portion 16 terminating in a circular finger engaging manipulating end 16. In relaxed position, as shown in Fig. 4, the portions 16* and 16 may be substantially parallel.

The arms 14, 14 are engaged within upwardly opening hooks 17, 17 which depend from the lower semi-tubular member 10 and which are preferably provided with frusto-conical heads 17 seated in corresponding apertures in the wall of member 10 and suitably secured thereto, asbest shown in Fig. 7. Likewise, hooks 18, 18 project upwardly from the upper semi-tubular member 11 and through which the upperarms lid, 16' loosely extend. The hooks 18, 18 are preferably secured to member 11in the same manner as hooks 17, 17' whereby no obstruction is ofiered to the bore provided by the combined semitubular members it) and 11.

The coils l5, 15 are supported on opposite ends of a spool 19 in the bore of which is removably disposed a bolt 20 which extends through washers 21, 21 disposed at opposite ends of the spool and a nut 22 is threaded onto the bolt into engagement with one of the washers. The semi-tubular members lid and 11 jointly provide a conductor receiving bore 23 of uniform diameter throughout the major length of the member. The walls of the members are however outwardly tapered adjacent their ends as indicated at 24 in Fig. 6 and the extreme end edges are preferably rounded as indicated at 25 to prevent damage to the conductor in its various swaying movements.

The improved clamp as above described is unitary in view of which there is no need of assembling any elements thereof prior to or during the application of the clamp to the insulator and which circumstance greatly facilitates the carrying of such clamps by linemen.

Inthe assembly of the clamp on an insulator I, it is necessary to release the bolt 20 in order todispose the arcuate arms 14., 14' within the insulator recess R, after which the bolt is replaced within the spool 19 and the 3 may be regulated to a degree by the tension exerted on the coils 15, by the washers 21, 21 through the bolt and nut 22.

In the assembly of the arms 14, 14' as above described, the lower semi-tubular member 10 is disposed within the insulator groove G and the clamp is then in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the upper semi-tubular member 11 is loosely suspended from the upper arms 16, 16' in substantially vertically spaced relation to the lower fixed tubular member 10. With the clamp thus assembled on the insulator I and in what may be termed its open position, the conductor C (Fig. 4) is laid into the lower semi-tubular member 10 after which the clamp is closed.

The closing of the clamp is effected by grasping the arm portions 16* and manually urging the arms 16, 16 downwardly against the action of coils 15, 15' and in which action the upper semi-tubular member 11 is brought downwardly into mating relation with the lower tubular member 10 with the conductor C disposed in the bore 23 provided by the cooperating semi-tubular members, as indicated in Fig. 2. Upon such downward movement of the arms 16, 16 the portions 16 thereof are sprung past the ends of loop 12 and latched into operative position beneath the catch members 13, 13. If and when it is desired to release the conductor C, it is necessary only to spring the arms 16, 16 and release same from the catch members 13, 13'.

While the wire of which the major portion of the clamp is constructed is resilient, the lower arms 14, 14' together with the loop 12 and catch members 13, 13' will be relatively rigid due to the curvatures therein and such rigidity will be suificient to hold the upper, more yieldable, arms 16, 16' in their operative closed position shown in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that once the clamp is installed on an insulator I, a lineman does not have to remove the clamp to release the wire or cable C, as is the case with most of the prior art devices. Neither does the lineman have to wind or unwind the wires which are usually employed. The lineman merely releases the clamp arms 16, 16 from the catch members 13, 13 to open the tube portions for releasing or receiving a cable C, and the clamp is readily closed by hooking the arms 16, 16 under the catch members 13, 13.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with a single specific structural embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A conductor-insulator clamp for use with an insulator having a transverse groove in the upper end and a circumferential recess around the sides thereof, said clamp comprising a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate lower arms resiliently biased toward each other, means connecting said arms at one end and including a pair of catch members, a pair of upper arms, a tubular support for freely surrounding a conductor and including cooperative upper and lower semitubular portions, means connecting said semitubular portions to said pairs of upper and lower arms respectively, and a pair of spring devices respectively connecting one end of one of said upper arms in hinging relation with the free end of one of said lower arms and biasing said arms apart to separate said semitubular portions, whereby said lower arms may be seated in straddling relation in the insulator recess with said lower semitubular portion nested in the insulator groove and after seating the conductor in said lower semitubular portion, said conductor may be enclosed by depressing said upper arms to lower said upper semitubular portion onto said lower portion and respectively securing said upper arms by said catch members.

2. A conductor-insulator clamp according to claim 1 wherein said spring devices comprise a pair of substantially coaxially disposed coils, and means passing through said coils and releasably and adjustably urging said coils toward each other to facilitate straddling of the insulator by said lower arms and to regulate the tension thereof.

3. A conductor-insulator clamp according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means slidably connects said semitubular portions to said pairs of upper and lower arms respectively.

4. A conductor-insulator clamp for use with an insulator having a transverse groove in the upper end and a circumferential recess around the sides thereof, said clamp comprising a single rod bent centrally thereof to form a bight portion with branches extending therefrom, said rod being bent at the junctures of said bight portion with each of said branches in oppositely disposed laterally extending downwardly inclined U-bends respectively forming catches, the portions of said branches adjacent said catches being curved to define a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate lower arms resiliently biased toward each other and terminating in substantially coaxial spring hinge coils intermediate the length of said branches, the remaining portions of said branches extending from said coils forming a pair of upper arms overlying said lower arms and biased therefrom by said coils, a tubular support for freely surrounding a conductor and including cooperative upper and lower semitubular portions, and means connecting said semitubular portions to said pairs of upper and lower arms respectively, whereby said lower arms may be seated in straddling relation in the insulator recess with said lower semitubular portion nested in the insulator groove and after seating the conductor in said lower semitubular portion said upper arms may be depressed to lower said upper semitubular portion onto said lower portion to enclose the conductor and said upper arms may be respectively secured under said catches.

5. A conductor-insulator clamp according to claim 4 comprising means passing through said coils and releasably and adjustably urging said coils toward each other to facilitate straddling of the insulator by said lower arms and to regulate the tension thereof.

6. A conductor-insulator clamp according to claim 5 wherein said upper arms in relaxed, unclamped position each include opposite end portions which are offset in substantially parallel relation and connected by an intermediate portion that is generally parallel to the plane of the lower arms, and said connecting means slidably connecting said semitubular portions to said arms, whereby in clamped position the outer free end portions of said upper arms are substantially parallel with the plane of said U-bend catches and said upper semitubular portion is nested in the bends joining said intermediate arm portions with the inner hinged end portions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 8,974 Collins Nov. 18, 1879 200,113 Weed Feb. 5, 1878 601,454 Weikman Mar. 29, 1898 1,750,880 Dickinson Mar. 18, 1930 2,000,652 Snyder May 7, 1935 2,067,818 Bell Jan. 12, 1937 2,315,961 Hubbard Apr. 6, 1943 

